Austrian Wine: Where To Buy The Best Varietals

where can I buy austrian wine

Austrian wine is known for its exceptional artisanal winemaking, with the country's unique climate, landscape, grapes, and culture creating elegant and balanced wines. The most prominent wine-growing regions in Austria include Burgenland, Niederösterreich, Steiermark, Bergland, and Wien, with the latter being a seriously accomplished wine-growing region within the capital city, Vienna. Austrian wines are known for their superior quality and diverse range of flavours, offering excellent value for money. The country's signature grape varieties include Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Saint Laurent, Blaufrankisch, and Zweigelt. With the increasing popularity of Austrian wines, particularly in the United States, there are now many options available for purchasing these wines online, such as Total Wine & More, Wine.com, and Binny's Beverage Depot. These retailers offer a wide selection of Austrian wines, including both well-known and lesser-known varieties, at various price points, allowing wine enthusiasts to explore the exciting world of Austrian winemaking.

Characteristics Values
Wine Types Red, White, Sparkling
Grape Varieties Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Saint Laurent, Blaufrankisch, Zweigelt, Blauburgunder (Pinot Noir), Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc), Welschriesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet
Wine Styles Sweet, Dry
Wine Regions Burgenland, Niederösterreich, Steiermark, Bergland, Wien, Wachau, Kremstal, Kamptal
Wine Producers Family-run Estates
Price Range €10-20
Availability Online, In-Store
Shipping Insured, Damage-Resistant Containers, Original Wooden Crates via UPS

shunculture

Online retailers

Austrian wines are known for their high quality and unique style, with a focus on native grape varieties and environmentally friendly practices. The country boasts a wide range of white wines, from dry and sharp to sweet and aromatic, as well as elegant reds.

When it comes to online retailers, there are several options to choose from. Here are some of the top websites where you can buy Austrian wine:

Vinello.eu

Vinello offers a great selection of Austrian wines at affordable prices. They supply fine wines from various regions of Austria, including Styria, Lower Austria, Burgenland, and Vienna. Vinello prides itself on ensuring that your wine arrives safely and well-packaged, with climate-neutral shipping. They also offer weekly wine recommendations, tips, and occasional vouchers.

Decantalo.se

Decantalo offers a wide range of Austrian wines, showcasing the country's diverse wine regions. They provide detailed information about each wine, including the grape varieties and tasting notes. Decantalo also has a classification system similar to the German model, with categories like "Tafelwein" (table wine), "Qualitätswein" (quality wine from a single region), and "Prädikastwein" (quality wines with specific attributes).

8Wines.com

8Wines offers a handpicked selection of Austrian wines, backed by excellent reviews for their service, selection, and fast shipping. They have a Trusted Shops trustmark, ensuring secure purchases and a money-back guarantee. 8Wines also provides insurance on purchases and insures future purchases from trusted shops for up to €2,500 free of charge.

Millesima.com

Millesima celebrates the exceptional quality of Austrian wines, highlighting the country's unique grape varieties and environmentally friendly practices. They offer a 20% discount when you purchase 12 bottles or more, making it an attractive option for those looking to stock up on Austrian wines.

PeterSolberg.com

While not exclusively dedicated to Austrian wines, Peter Solberg offers a range of wines from different regions, including Austria. You can sign up for their newsletter to stay updated with the latest news, insider tips, and exclusive offers.

These online retailers provide a convenient way to explore and purchase Austrian wines, allowing you to discover the unique flavours and styles that this wine-producing country has to offer.

shunculture

US availability

Austrian wine is widely available in the US, with several online retailers offering a range of Austrian wines for purchase. Some popular websites for buying Austrian wine in the US include:

Total Wine & More

Total Wine & More offers a selection of Austrian wines, including the famous Grüner Veltliner, a white wine known for its crisp and refreshing taste, as well as red wines like Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch. The website also provides informative descriptions of Austrian wine regions and grape varieties, making it a great resource for those new to Austrian wines.

Wine.com

Wine.com is another excellent option for buying Austrian wines in the US. In addition to Grüner Veltliner, they also feature Austrian Rieslings, which are known for their bright citrus flavors and dry style, as well as a range of red wines such as Zweigelt and Saint Laurent. The website provides helpful information about Austrian wine regions and the country's rich viticultural history.

Millesima-USA

Millesima-USA offers a curated selection of Austrian wines, showcasing the diverse wine-growing landscapes of the country. From the vineyards of Wachau along the Danube in Lower Austria to the hillsides of Styria, their wines reflect the unique terroirs of these regions. They also highlight Austria's leadership in organic and biodynamic viticulture, making it a great choice for those seeking natural wines.

Austrian Wine USA

Austrian Wine USA is a blog dedicated to promoting Austrian wines in the US market. It offers news, events, and guides related to Austrian wines. While they may not directly sell wines, their website can be a valuable resource for learning about Austrian wines and discovering new releases. Additionally, they provide storage tips and movie-pairing guides to elevate your wine-tasting experience.

In addition to these online options, Austrian wines can also be found at select retailers and specialty wine shops across the US. With the increasing popularity of Austrian wines in the US, now is a great time to explore the diverse and captivating world of Austrian viticulture.

shunculture

Price and value

Austrian wine is known for its exceptional artisanal winemaking, with the country's unique climate, landscape, grapes, and culture creating elegant and balanced wines. The most well-known Austrian wines are made from white grapes, such as Gruner Veltliner and Riesling, but the country also produces excellent red wines from grapes like Saint Laurent, Blaufrankisch, and Zweigelt.

When it comes to price and value, Austrian wines offer excellent value for money across all profitable price bands. Family-run estates dominate the Austrian viticulture scene, and the industry's focus is not on mass production. This, coupled with high labour intensity, artisan production methods, and strict yield restrictions, means that Austria typically sells its wine at entry-level prices only in exceptional situations. However, the quality of Austrian wines in the €10-20 range is comparable to wines sold at significantly higher prices in the international market. For example, a bottle of Zweigelt from Burgenland has an SRP of $17 but can be found for as low as $12, while a bottle of Gruner Veltliner from Kamptal, Austria, with an SRP of $30, can be purchased for as little as $24.

Austrian wines are becoming increasingly popular and accessible, especially with more and more wine being imported to the United States. This makes it an excellent time to explore what Austrian wine has to offer in terms of both value and variety. In addition to the well-known sweet wines, the region is also producing excellent dry wines that showcase the unique terroir of the country.

When purchasing Austrian wine, it is important to consider additional costs such as tariffs, duties, sales taxes, alcohol by volume taxes, and shipping and insurance charges, especially when ordering online or through shipments. These charges can vary depending on the retailer and the location of the purchaser. Nonetheless, Austrian wines remain a good value proposition, offering high quality at a reasonable price, and are sure to be a delightful addition to any wine collection or dining experience.

shunculture

Grape varieties

Austria has 42 grape varieties, 28 of which are white and 14 are red. These varieties are officially approved for the production of Qualitätswein, Prädikatswein, and Landwein. The country's winegrowing regions are mostly in the east, with the most notable ones being Burgenland, Niederösterreich, Steiermark, Bergland, and Wien.

The most famous Austrian grape variety is Grüner Veltliner, a white grape known for its racy acidity and herbal, peppery aromatics. It is also the most important white variety in the country, accounting for nearly a third of Austrian plantings. Grüner Veltliner wines are generally dry and range from short-lived Heuriger wines to Spätleses, which are capable of long life. Other white grape varieties include Frühroter Veltliner, Neuburger, Rotgipfler, Roter Veltliner, Sylvaner, Zierfandler, Müller-Thurgau, Muskat-Ottonel, Scheurebe, and Jubiläumsrebe.

Austrian Riesling is known for its high quality, although it is planted on less than 5% of the country's vineyard land. Austrian Rieslings are typically dry and feature bright citrus flavours and good acidity. Over time, they develop more depth and complexity, making them excellent for ageing.

Red grape varieties in Austria include Blaufränkisch, Blauer Portugieser, Sankt Laurent, and Zweigelt. Blaufränkisch is the more "serious" variety between the two, while Blauer Portugieser produces fresh, fruity red wines meant for early drinking. Sankt Laurent, which originated from France, can be challenging to grow but can yield good-quality wine. Zweigelt, on the other hand, is the #1 red wine grape in Austria, known for producing velvety wines.

shunculture

Wine regions

Austria's wine regions are primarily in the northeast of the country, in the state of Niederösterreich (Lower Austria) bordering Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Slovenia. The country's wine regions can be divided into three parts, which split into smaller regions.

Niederösterreich (Lower Austria)

This is the largest winemaking region in the country, located on the banks of the Danube River and home to the world-famous winemaking area of Wachau. It is comprised of eight regions, including Wachau, Kremstal, Kamptal, Traisental, Wagram, Weinviertel, Carnuntum, and Thermenregion. The Weinviertel, literally “wine quarter,” has been growing grapes for centuries and is where most base wines for Austrian sparkling wine are grown. In the Kamptal, Kremstal, Wachau, and Traisental, Riesling is also grown in addition to the region's signature grape, Grüner Veltliner.

Burgenland

Burgenland is to the east of Lower Austria and is one of the most important Austrian wine regions in terms of producing red wines. The Zweigelt grape is particularly at home in Vienna's Neusiedlersee region, and Blaufränkisch is mainly grown in the areas of Leithaberg, Mittelburgenland, and Eisenberg.

Steiermark (Styria)

Styria is in the south of the country and is home to the Vineyards of Winery Tement.

Wien (Vienna)

The Wien region includes a seriously accomplished wine-growing region within the city limits of the capital, Vienna.

Frequently asked questions

You can buy Austrian wine from online retailers such as Total Wine & More, Wine.com, and Binny's Beverage Depot.

Austrian wine is best known for its white grape, Gruner Veltliner, and its excellent Riesling. However, the country also offers several tasty red varieties, including Saint Laurent, Blaufrankisch, and Zweigelt.

Austrian wines offer excellent value for money across all profitable price bands. Many well-known Austrian wineries sell wines in the €10–20 range, with premium wines available at higher prices.

Most of the wine-growing regions in Austria are in the eastern part of the country. Notable regions include Burgenland, Niederösterreich, Steiermark, Bergland, and Wien. The Wachau, Kremstal, and Kamptal regions are also renowned for their steep vineyard terraces.

Online retailers typically offer standard shipping options for wine deliveries, with some providing additional services such as curbside or in-store pickup. Insuring shipments is recommended due to the rarity of these wines, and original wooden crates can often be shipped separately for an additional charge.

Written by

Explore related products

Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment